“That we'll have to see about, don't forget Callan has to go to school too and we'd have to discuss it with your Mom.”

“I know. Maybe I could start judo again too so I can go with her and Jimmy.”

“We'll think about it, now shush cause she's coming over and we don't want her to know we've been talking about her do we?”

Rosie smiled and they both put their fingers to their lips and winked conspiratorially at each other. “Wow that smells lovely Callan.”

“Well like I said Rosie did all the work, I just helped.” she cut two slices from each pizza and placed them onto the plates in front of Rosie and Dave along with a slice of Garlic bread each “There you go, don't let it get cold.”

“Calli” Rosie frowned as Callan turned away from the table “Aren't you having some?”

“Well I was going to go home and let you and your Dad have sometime together.”

“You can't go Callan, you have to eat some too, doesn't she Daddy?”

“Yes” he looked up at Callan “Sit down and eat.”

“Well....if you're sure.”

“Callan of course we are so no more arguments and sit down ok.”

“Ok then” she smiled.

“You okay honey?” David asked as Callan sat watching him and Rosie laughing and swapping silly jokes.

“Yeah I'm fine” she smiled.

“Sure? You looked kind of lost for a moment.”

She glanced at Rosie then Dave “I'm ok” she shook her head warningly then turned to Rosie “And I'm really looking forward to seeing my Dad.”

“What’s your Dad like Calli?” Rosie asked.

“Now where do I start?” she smiled “Lets see, he's great, really kind, tells amazing stories oh and” she shot a sidelong glance at Dave before looking back at Rosie “He thinks he's a comedian like your Dad does.”

“But I am funny” Dave protested trying not to smile as Callan and Rosie giggled together.

“Yes of course you are” Callan looked at him and giggled harder.

“Ok, you are too cheeky Callan Matthews do you know that?” he joined in laughing with them.

“But that's what you like about me.”

“Rosie why don't you go and get that joke book from your room so that you can show it to Callan?”

“Ok Daddy.”

Dave watched as she disappeared into the hallway “You're still worried aren't you?”

Callan nodded “A little, I don't know what I'd do if my Dad wasn't around.”

“Calli I'm sure everything’s okay with him, I can't see him worrying you unnecessarily.”

“I know you're right, it'll be fine, I'm getting worked up over nothing.”

Dave watched as she smiled brightly as Rosie came back into the room, “Oooh is that the book, come and show me.” Callan you're a natural at this you're going to make an amazing Mom one day. He thought.

Sitting with Dave and listening to the White Stripes whilst Rosie sat doing her homework Callan sighed and looked at her watch “I guess I'd better head off home.”

“Now?”

“Yes David I have some stuff to sort out before I leave.”

“Are you going to be okay?”

“I'll be fine.”

“Are you sure, you can stay awhile longer if you want.”

“No I should really get going, I still need to pack.”

“Well thank you for having Rosie for me.”

“It was an absolute pleasure, she's a really lovely girl Dave.”

“Well thank you anyway, she's really taken to you and you seem to get on well with her.”

“As I said she's adorable.” she looked over at her and smiled “And a hell of a lot like her Dad.”

“Poor girl” Dave chuckled.

“That's not necessarily a bad thing you know, I'd better go, I need an early night else I'll never get up in time to get to the airport.”

“Rosie come and say goodbye to Callan” Dave called across the room.

“Ok Dad” She got up and came across to where Callan was standing “Bye Calli” she whispered hugging her hard “I'm going to miss you.”

“Me too sweetie, but I'll see you when you get back and you'll be able to tell me about your trip and we can compare notes right.”

Rosie smiled “Yeah I'd like that.” suddenly she reached up and kissed Callan on the cheek “Bye Calli.”

“Bye Rosie” she smiled touching her cheek and looking at Dave.

“Right young lady, your Mom will be here in a bit so you'd better go and get your stuff together whilst I say goodbye to Callan.”

“Yeah okay Dad” she got to her room before turning and waving at Callan “Bye I'll see you when I get back.”

“What time's the flight?” Dave asked as they stood at his front door.

“Urgh 7am” she grimaced “So I need to be there about 3 hours before.”

“Rather you than me, I'll think about you being out there when I'm still tucked up nice and warm in bed.”

“Yeah well we can't all travel by private jet now can we unlike someone I know” she chuckled and stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek “ Night Dave, I'll see you when I get back.”

“Ok” he pulled her in close to hug her and then kissed her on the forehead, “Don't forget to ring me.”

“I won't, I'll ring you when I get home and let you know what's happening ok.”

“Ok. Night Calli.”

“Night Dave.”

Callan stood humming. “Take Take Take” to herself as the lift reached the ground floor and the doors opened. She smiled at the tall dark haired woman who was standing waiting and stepped out of the lift continuing to hum the tune. The woman smiled back entered the lift and watched the small blonde girl walk across the lobby to the doors. White Stripes she grinned to herself, Dave's favourite band, the door slid shut and she stood alone with just the girl’s scent for company.

“That'll be your Mom” Dave said as the doorbell went a couple of minutes later “Unless it's Callan and she's forgotten something.” Tickling Rosie on the stomach as he got up he made his way over to the door and opened it. “Hello Jen.”

“Hi David” she walked into his apartment immediately noticing White Stripes playing quietly in the background.

“Mommeeee” Rosie flew across the room to meet her “You've just missed Calli, you could have met her if you'd been here a few moments ago.”

“I think I just saw her” she answered her sharp sense of smell noticing the faint scent identical to the one she'd smelt in the lift still clinging to Rosie's jumper.

“Did you, isn't she pretty Mummy?” “Rosie smiled “You'd really like her, she looked after me this afternoon didn't she Daddy?”

“Did she really?” she looked at Dave and narrowed her eyes “Perhaps I should meet your Daddy's little friend.”

“Not now Jen” he hissed in her ear as he came over, “Rosie do you want to put your homework away and sort out anything you want to take back to your Mom's with you.”

“Ok” she looked up at Dave tearfully “You and Mummy aren't going to argue are you?”

“Nope” he smiled reassuringly at her “No arguments isn't that right Jen? I just need to discuss some stuff about next week with your Mom that's all. Go on sort your stuff out and I'll just go and wash these cups up whilst I talk with your Mom.”

“So you've got the girlfriend looking after our Daughter now, have you? I've got to admit she's a hell of a lot younger than I imagined.”

“Jen, first of all she's not my girlfriend so let's get that straight ok.”

“Of course she isn't Dave, why else would you be spending so much time with someone half your age.” She gave him a hard stare “And we all thought it was just Martin who'd got a thing for younger women, seems like he isn't the only one.”

“I'm not seeing her or anyone else at the moment” he replied calmly.

“Mm right why don't I believe you and you've obviously forgotten your agreement not to have a trail of girlfriends passing through when the kids are here.”

Dave took a couple of deep breaths “Jenifer listen to me I'm not seeing and I don't want to see anyone at the moment ok?”

Jennifer shook her head “You, not want to be in a relationship, so what is she then some tart you use when you need to screw someone?”

“She's not a tart” he answered mentally counting to ten, the one thing he'd promised himself was he was never going to argue with Jennifer in front of Rosie and Jimmy. “And maybe living with you was enough to put me off women for life.”

“Oh so you're going to be like that now, are you?” she sniped.

“Sit down” he pointed to one of the stools at the counter as he began to run hot water into the kitchen sink “Maybe I shouldn't have said that, but if you'll just listen to me I'll explain, Callan is only a friend and she happened to be here when Claudine dropped Rosie home, I was going to get your Mom to look after her but Rosie asked if Calli could look after her.”

“So you just let her, Jesus Dave anything could have happened to her, we agreed that we both had to be happy with who's looking after the kids.”

“And today was a one off, anyway do you really think I'd leave our daughter with someone I didn't trust completely?”

“No I know you wouldn't” she sighed “So you trust her then?”

“I'd trust Callan with my life, Rosie really likes her and Callan was really good with her today, in fact Rosie asked if Callan could look after her sometimes when both of us are busy.”

“Mmm that I'll have to think about, we agreed we'd only leave them with people they know well.”

“Yes I know that Jen, but I think it could be good for Rosie to have someone who can spend time baking and cooking and doing stuff like that, you know how mad she is about doing those things.”

“Are you saying I'm a bad Mother or something now cause I don't do those things with her?” Jennifer suddenly turned on him “I'm only working like mad now because of you going on tour soon.”

“I'm not saying that, I was just thinking it might be nice for her to have a Sister figure that's all, you know yourself that she's always wanted a Sister.”

“Maybe but Rosie said she was only here for a few months, what if she gets close to her and then leaves, you didn't think of that did you?”

“Well no, but like you said Rosie knows this already, she's a bright kid she knows it'll only be for a few months, and she can see her when we go and visit Jack anyway she doesn't live that far from London, so she'll still see her.”

“We'll discuss it another time” Jen answered quickly as Rosie reappeared in the doorway.

“You're not arguing are you?” she asked glancing at her parents.

“Nope me and your Mom are just discussing your trip that's all, have you got everything?”

“I think so” she nodded slipping her backpack onto her shoulders “Will I see you tomorrow?”

“Promise” he grinned kneeling down in front of her “I'll pick you up from school tomorrow sweetheart.”

“Ok” she beamed hugging him hard “See you tomorrow Daddy.”

“Yeah see you tomorrow Princess.”

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